Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman on Monday stressed on the need for establishing an inclusive growth process by offering equal opportunities to all segments of population.

Realising this, the central bank has been promoting inclusive growth through offering financial services at the doorstep of all people of the society.

Dr. Atiur made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of a day-long workshop titled “Making sense of CSR: Connecting to Disability in Development” as chief guest. The Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) organized this at a city hotel.

Mentioning an UN report revealed recently, the central bank governor said at present around 15 percent of the world’s population is disabled, while the rate is around 9.0 percent in Bangladesh, but only 11 percent of the people with disability have access to education.

These statistics provide enough rationale for us to think deeply about the welfare of the people with disability so as to ensure an inclusive economic and social growth. In FY 2011-12 national budget, around Taka 1.0 billion was allocated for providing financial assistance to 286,000 poor people with disability, Atiur added.

BB Governor also mentioned that the corporate social responsibility (CSR) is gaining global acceptance as a standard of socially equitable business practices. The role of business worldwide has evolved from classical ‘profit maximising’ approach to a ‘socially responsible’ approach, where business is not only responsible to its stockholders but also to all of its stakeholders in a broader inclusive sense, said Atiur.

Gazi Mohammad Nurul Kabir, managing director, Jatiyo Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation was present as special guest while executive director, CDD, AHM Noman Khan presented the keynote paper on the occasion. BB Governor also informed that to ease financial services to the people with disability, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) has set up separate counter at the cash department of its all branch offices. Besides, BB has advised all scheduled banks in Bangladesh to nominate an officer as the key focal person for providing services to the disabled.

BB’s agricultural credit programme attaches special priorities to the disabled in distribution of agricultural credit, Dr Atiur said adding the banks are also helping disabled people of the society through their various CSR programmes.

Dutch-Bangla Bank (DBBL) awarded scholarships to five physically students with disability who passed SSC examination in 2009. The scholarship covers financial assistance for their full academic periods. Besides, DBBL arranged free surgical operation for children and adolescents with club-feet and plastic surgery operation camp under its Smile-Brighter Programme.

Standard Bank Limited is serving people by setting up a temporary eye treatment project and also donated cheques to 20 war wounded Freedom Fighters. HSBC has been providing scholarships to 30 blind students over the past 3 years and the number presently has increased to 50 in 2011. BRAC Bank is providing financial aids for the treatment and education of hearing impaired poor people of the society. BRAC Bank is also supporting the leading school of Autistic children for building awareness about Autism.

Besides, BRAC Bank has provided educational materials to around 300 underprivileged children with multiple disabilities.

Source: The Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ 13th Dec 2011